TIM CAHILL is convinced Everton still possess the quality and spirit to emerge strongly from a difficult start to the season.

Fears of a long campaign of slog for the Goodison outfit were intensified when influential midfielder Mikel Arteta was sold to Arsenal shortly before last month’s transfer deadline.

Ongoing financial restraints limited manager David Moyes’ movement in the summer market and prompted a peaceful protest march from supporters’ group The Blue Union on Saturday calling for change among the club’s hierarchy.

On the pitch, however, Everton subsequently produced a fine performance and were unfortunate to come away with only a 2-2 Premier League draw at home to Aston Villa.

And Cahill, who operated as a makeshift striker, believes the display showed there remains plenty of hope for the future.

“We still have that tightness, spirit and togetherness,” he said. “The window is over, we know what we have got in the dressing room when you look around and see the quality.

“We really appreciate each other and the manager and the chairman. We just want to do well.

“Saturday’s game shows it’s the start of being positive and that we have some real quality here.

“Everybody wants to see new faces and change, but sometimes it can’t be done. We are balancing the books and we want to be a football club that’s going to be around for a very long time.”